Fraud: 43 Nigerian nurses face criminal charges over fake degree diplomas in US

*The Texas Board of Nursing, in the United States, explains the ‘formal charges’ against those involved in obtaining fake and fraudulent Nursing Degree Diplomas and transcripts are not a final disciplinary action, as a nurse is permitted to work, while Formal Charges are pending

Isola Moses| ConsumerConnect

For fraudulently obtaining educational and professional credentials in the American country, the Texas Board of Nursing, in the United States (US), has released a 75-person probe list indicating that 43 Nigerians are currently under investigation.

The Board, in the information published on its Web site about the probe tagged, ‘Operation Nightingale’, noted the foreigners, who acquired the fraudulent nursing credentials used them to qualify to sit for the national nursing board examination in the country.

It was gathered that after the successful completion of the required Board exam, the nursing applicants reportedly became eligible to obtain licensure in various states to work as a Registered Nurse (RN) or a Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/VN) in the US.

Subsequently, the regulatory body stated it had filed “Formal Charges” against the Nigerian nurses for fraudulently obtaining educational credentials.

It also said: “Please note that Formal Charges are not a final disciplinary action, and a nurse is permitted to work, as a nurse, while Formal Charges are pending.”

A statement on Web site further said on January 25, 2023, the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and law enforcement partners launched a multi-state coordinated law enforcement action to apprehend individuals engaged in a scheme to sell false and fraudulent Nursing Degree Diplomas and transcripts.

The Board stated: “The alleged scheme involved the selling of fake and fraudulent nursing degree diplomas and transcripts obtained from accredited Florida-based nursing schools to Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/VN) candidates.”

The statement noted it is working diligently, with all appropriate nursing regulatory bodies, nursing education programme providers, accreditation bodies and authorities to detect, investigate and resolve these matters as quickly as possible.

This measure, the Board said, includes seeking revocation of any licensure obtained through fraudulent means.

It stated: “This list will be updated continuously as the Board receives additional information about the fraudulent diploma/transcript scheme.”